RapidVisa Blog

The poverty guidelines are the other version of the federal poverty measure. They, too, are issued every year, generally in the winter, but by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in the Federal Register. The guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds created for administrative use, such as determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs. They are adjusted for families of different sizes and by geographic location (with different guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; Alaska; and Hawaii).

Starting on Monday, May 6, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) USCIS will Require Individuals to Submit Biometric Data when appearing at USCIS offices. The USCIS will implement a program called Customer Identity Verification (CIV) in its field offices that will now be require individuals to submit fingerprints and photographs, when appearing at USCIS offices for interviews or to receive evidence of an immigration benefit.

To increase efficiency, reduce operating costs and streamline the admission process, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is automating Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record process.  CBP will no longer require international non-immigrant visitors to fill out a paper Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record upon arrival to the U.S. by air or sea. The traveler will be provided with a CBP admission stamp on their travel. 

As part of ongoing commitment to improving customer service, USCIS has recently introduced new options for customers to obtain information and check on the status of their application electronically and has also expanded its call center hours.

  They expanded the capabilities of two of our online tools, My Case Status and e-Request, to provide these more flexible options:

My Case Status now allows customers to view the current status of applications they submit, no matter which USCIS form they used. My Case Status now lets them track, through our Secure Mail Initiative (SMI),...

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. ESTA is an online, automated application system developed by the United States government to pre-screen travelers before they are permitted to board an airplane or ship bound for the United States. Starting on January 12, 2009, any person entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is required to hold an approved ESTA Travel Authorization.

If you have international travel in less than 2 weeks or need to obtain a foreign visa within 4 weeks, you are eligible to schedule an appointment at a one of our regional passport agencies in the United States. You may be required to provide proof of your travel at certain regional passport agencies. See the individual agency pages for additional information. Will call service is offered for life/death emergencies and immediate travel. The agency will determine how best to return the passport in order to meet the customer's documented travel plans. You can submit your application locally at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility using routine service or expedite service. In addition, the following regional passport agencies do not require any travel plans to apply (an appointment and the Expedite Fee are still required to apply): Arkansas Passport Agency Buffalo Passport Agency Colorado Passport Agency Detroit Passport Agency El Paso Passport Agency Honolulu Passport Agency Minneapolis Passport...

A Birth Certificate from the National Statistics Office (NSO) is a vital record that establishes the birth of a child. It is an official form that gives details on the time and place of a person's birth, and his or her name, sex, mother's name and (usually) father's name. The word "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document or a certified true copy of or representation of the original record of birth document. The birth certificate is issued shortly after an individual's birth, after the mother's physician files the required forms with the appropriate government agency, usually the local civil registrar's office. The official birth certificate is stored at LCR where records are archived at the NSO. The birth certificate is used to authenticate one's identity and nationality, and assist with obtaining government-issued identity documents, such as a passport or driver's license. Holding a birth certificate makes it easier to prove citizenship in nations where citizenship depends upon location...

Make sure to register your items before you leave the United States. If your laptop computer was made in Japan—for instance—you might have to pay duty on it each time you bring it back into the United States, unless you could prove that you owned it before you left on your trip. Documents that fully describe the item—such as sales receipts, insurance policies, or jeweler's appraisals—are acceptable forms of proof. To make things easier, you can register certain items with CBP before you depart— including watches, cameras, laptop computers, firearms, and CD players—as long as they have serial numbers or other unique, permanent markings. Take the items to the nearest CBP office and request a Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad (CBP Form 4457). It shows that you had the items with you before leaving the United States and all items listed on it will be allowed duty-free entry. CBP officers must see the item you are registering in order to certify the certificate of registration. You can also register items with CBP at the international airport from which you’re departing. Keep the certificate for future trips....

The intention of a tourist or travel visa is a temporary visit for a specified amount of time. If you want to get married during your visit then return home before your visa expires that may be legal, but a travel visa should not be used with the intention of entering the United States to marry, stay permanently and adjust status. Using the K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa avoids all of the problems noted above, and is the most appropriate way for a foreign fiancé(e) to come to the U.S. to marry. 

Obtaining an employment verification letter from the US citizen sponsor’s current employer is highly recommended when providing evidence and proof of income for your Affidavit of Support. 

CBP is experiencing a delay in processing foreign visitors’ travel information into the I-94 database. This does not affect the majority of foreign travelers visiting for business or leisure and will not affect any visitor’s record of departure.Foreign visitors to the U.S. who need to prove their legal-visitor status—to employers, schools/universities or government agencies--during their first two months in the U.S. may need information in addition to the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record that they received from Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Currently, CBP is exploring automating the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record to allow for the collection of arrival/departure information electronically, which would streamline the arrival and inspection process for travelers. CBP is coordinating with other agency stakeholders and considering rulemaking. CBP has successfully automated other paper forms familiar to the traveling public. For example, by automating the Form I-94W—the Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure...

The Affidavit of Support is legally required for the petitioning sponsor for many family-based and some employment based immigrants to show the intending immigrant will have adequate means of support, when planning to immigrate to the U.S. The purpose of the process is to prove that the intending immigrant has adequate means of financial support and is unlikely to become a public charge. 

As “petitioning sponsor” this means you have filed an immigrant petition, which has been approved by USCIS. You have paid your Affidavit of Support processing fee and you have been contacted by the Department of State, National Visa Center (NVC) with instructions. You are ready for the next step in the immigration process, which is submit the I-864 Affidavit of Support and required supporting documents for the purpose of sponsoring the intending immigrant. 

In the United States, the nine digits that make up your Social Security number (SSN) may be the most important numbers in your life. It's being issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents. The number is divided into three parts. The  Area Number, the first three digits, is assigned by the geographical region.The middle two digits are the Group Number.The last four digits are Serial Numbers. They represent a straight numerical sequence of digits from 0001-9999 within the group.The SSN is generally required by financial institutions to set up bank accounts, credit cards, and obtain loans, partly because it is assumed that no one except the person to whom it was issued will know it. You need a Social Security number to get a job, collect Social Security benefits and receive some other government services. But you don't often need to show your Social Security card.You must present certain documents when you apply for a Social Security card. All documents submitted must be either...

Restricted items include meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, soil, and products made from animal or plant materials.Agricultural pests and diseases are a threat to U.S. food crops and livestock. Some of these organisms are highly contagious animal diseases that could cause severe economic damage to the livestock industry and losses in production, which would mean increased costs for meat and dairy products. Other pests can affect property values by damaging lawns, ornamental plants, trees, and even homes.Definitely check with U.S. Customs before you decide what to bring. Be sure you know the origin of the items, not just the type of products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are partners in this effort to protect American agriculture against the introduction of foreign plant and animal pests and diseases at our nation’s ports of entry. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) develops the policies that determine what agricultural products...

Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview.


Reference: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/a_zindex/a_zindex_4353.html

A green card is issued to all permanent residents as proof that they are authorized to live and work in the United States. If you are a permanent resident age 18 or older, you are required to have a valid green card in your possession at all times. Current green cards are valid for 10 years, or 2 years in the case of a conditional resident, and must be renewed before the card expires.


Source:  http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

Today the USCIS announced today it will start printing the From I-797C on regular bond paper instead of the fancy green paper they have used in the past. In addition to saving the agency about $1.1 million dollars a year, they hope that by making the document less impressive it will reduce the public's perception that the form provides an immigration benefit or status. The I-797C is only used for the following: Receipt (notifies the customer that their payment and application/petition has been received by USCIS) Rejection (notifies the customer that their application/petition has been rejected due to incorrect information or payment) Transfer (notifies the customer that their case was relocated to another USCIS office for processing) Re-Open (notifies the customer that USCIS has approved a motion to re-open their completed case and it is being processed)...

No matter where you file your I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (also known as the Work Permit or EAD), all cards are created and mailed from the USCIS card production facility in Kentucky.  In 2011 USCIS initiated the secure mail initiative in partnership with the United States Post Office (USPS). This partnership enables USCIS to confirm delivery of EAD cards. It also provides tracking information for all cards mailed from the card production facility.  Once you receive your  Notice of Approval you can contact USCIS's National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 and obtain your tracking number and current delivery status. You should wait two weeks before calling as...

Every now and then somebody asks us which countries are in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  Citizens from VWP countries do not need a visa to enter the united states.   To be admitted to the VWP a country must meet various security and other requirements, such as enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports. VWP members are also required to maintain high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards. Countries in the VWP program as of January 21, 2012 are listed below.  Citizens from any other country (except Canada and Mexico for which there are special programs), must obtain a visa before entering the United States. Andorra Hungary New Zealand Australia Iceland Norway Austria Ireland Portugal...

Many organizations provide free immigration help to indigent individuals in immigration removal proceedings.  Most only serve aliens. 

If you need legal advice but can't afford an attorney, these agencies may be able to help.  The Department of Justice maintains a list of free legal service providers by state.  To find a provider in your area go here:

Department of Justice Legal Orientation and Pro Bono Program

To check out RapidVisa or any company on the web we suggest the following:

1. Do a search at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. All legitimate businesses will trademark their business name. You can do a name search here:
United States Patent and Trademark Office  (http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp)
Remember to search the company name, not the domain name. In this case search RapidVisa, not RapidVisa.com

Never do business with an online company that is not registered with the trademark office. This is a huge warning sign that may indicate they don't want the government looking into their business.

Of course a spouse is an immediate relative.  However you should note that it is still considered immigration fraud to come to the USA on a tourist visa or the VWP with the intent to immigrate.  But if your intent was truely to visit and then you later decided to marry a U.S. citizen, you would be able to adjust your status and get your green card.  However, if you are currently in removal proceedings you probably will not get to stay just because you married a U.S. citizen and applied to adjust your status.

The latest version of From I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, available from the USCIS dated 11/23/10 with an expiration date of 01/31/2011.

According to the USCIS, this version of the I-130 is the most current available and is still accepted.  A new version of the form will likely be posted soon but even then they will likely follow their current practice of accepting the past few versions.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Friday, February 11, 2011 that it is now issuing employment and travel authorization on a single card for certain applicants filing an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-485. This new card represents a significant  improvement from the current practice of issuing paper Advance Parole documents

In November 2010, USCIS transferred approximately 36,000 Immediate Relative petitions from the California Service Center to the Texas Service Center. They anticipated that this redistribution of work would result in more timely adjudication of these petitions.  Many of these cases have still not been processed and are beyond the five month estimated processing time.

The K1 fiancée visa is granted with the condition that you marry within 90 days of your alien fiancée's arrival in the U.S., as indicated on the I-94 Arrival/Departure record.

If you do marry your fiancée but it is after the 90 day period, it is still possible to do the Adjustment of Status and obtain the green card.  However, you will need to file the I-130 along with the I-485, and pay the I-130 fee along with the I-485 fee.

Be carefull because once the I-94 expires your fiancée is technically out of status, and the clock starts for the bar to reentry into the United States

Divorce was recognized in the Philippines between March 11, 1917 and August 29, 1950; since the latter date, courts have been empowered to grant legal separation (annulment) but not divorce.  Even during the period of legal recognition, divorces were rare in the Philippines because of limited legal grounds for granting divorces. Certified copies of the divorce certificate can be obtained from the appropriate court.  

In the case of a K-1 nonimmigrant who marries the petitioner within 90 days of
admission, the K-1 nonimmigrant (and any K-2 children who are otherwise eligible) may
obtain adjustment of status without the need for Form I-360, just as they would have
been eligible for adjustment without Form I-130, if the petitioner had not died. 

International travelers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are now subject to enhanced security requirements and will be required to pay an administrative fee. All eligible travelers who wish to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization and then pay the fee using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization Web Site.

No. The sponsor just has to sign the form. You should know however, when the sponsor signs an Affidavit of Support form, he/she certifies that the information provided, transcript and/or photocopy of tax documentation is true and correct, under penalty of perjury.

The K1 and K3 medical exam will take place at a doctor's office, hospital or clinic that has contracted with the U.S. government to provide such services.  This will be a local provider and not a United States medical facility.  The embassy will have the local provider sign the agreement below which spells out the requirements for the medical exam.

The two year conditional green card is a result of the Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 (IMFA).  At the time Congress was hearing testimony from U.S. citizens about numerous alien spouses who left their sponsor shortly after obtaining their green card.  There was also growing concerns about marriage for hire schemes where U.S. citizens were paid to marry aliens for the sole purpose of obtaining a green card.

Yes, headgear can be worn in the passport photo if the person wears it for religious reasons, and normally wears it everyday. Here is what the USCIS says:

Unless worn daily for religious reasons, all hats or headgear should be removed for the photo. A signed statement from the applicant must be submitted with the application verifying the item is worn daily for religious reasons. In all cases, no item or attire should cover or otherwise obscure any part of the face.

As a permanent resident or conditional permanent resident you can travel outside the United States for up to 6 months without loosing your green card. Staying outside the United States for more than 6 months, but less than one year will subject you to additional questioning when you return to the United States but you are not required to have a Reentry Permit and shouldn't have any problems getting back in.

This is a common question. The answer is no. There is no gray area in the law. This is one of the most stubborn myths surrounding U.S. immigration. The reason so many people believe this can be done is because some people get away with it. Many people feel very passionately that this is a perfectly acceptable method of bringing a fiance or spouse to the United States. When you come to the U.S. with a tourist visa, or on the visa waiver program, you are telling the U.S. government that you are coming for a visit and will be leaving when your tourist visa expires. If you stay beyond the expiration of your visa, you are out of status and subject to arrest and deportation. Filing for an adjustment of status (green card) does not change your status in any way and does not allow you to stay in the U.S. while waiting for your green card. Just getting married to a U.S. citizen gives you no rights at all as far as staying in the U.S. is concerned. If you have a valid visa that allows you to stay in the U.S. and does...

The USCIS has redesigned the Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, commonly called the Green Card, for the second time in less than 6 years.

In November of 2004, the green card was redesigned to replace the old Department of Justice and Immigration and Naturalization Service references with the new Department of Homeland Security branding.

The USCIS asks you to submit 2 inch by 2 inch passport photos for both you and your foreign fiance or spouse. However, getting 2x2 passport photos from most foreign countries is difficult to impossible, partly because most countries use the metric system.

After filing a K-1 Fiance Petition or any other type of application with the USCIS, you will receive a Notice of Action on form I-797. The first block on this form lists your USCIS case number (although the form calls it a Receipt Number.

If the USCIS feels you have a medical condition which would put United States citizens at risk, they will declare you inadmissible. The technical term used for this by the USICS is “Medical Grounds of Inadmissibility”.

The conditions that can get you banned from entry to the United States are:

Also known as Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record. The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection official at the port-of-entry gives foreign visitors (all non-U.S. citizens) an Arrival-Departure Record, (a small white card) when they enter the United States.

In general, if you were admitted as a non-immigrant, can apply to extend your stay in that nonimmigrant category or change to another nonimmigrant category. However, there are a number of requirements, and these services are not available to all nonimmigrant categories or in all circumstances.

If the USICS received your application before your status expires and if you have not violated the terms of your status and meet the basic eligibility requirements, then you may continue your previously approved activities in the U.S.( including previously authorized work, for a period of up to 240 days), until the USCIS makes a decision on your application or until the reason for your requested extension has been accomplished- whichever comes first.

The alien registration number or "A-number" is an identifying number that USCIS assigns to certain aliens, such as those who apply for adjustment of status. A-numbers may consist of 8 or 9 digits. From USCIS: Alien registration began in August 1940 as a program to record every non-citizen within the United States. The original Act of 1940 was a national security measure, and directed the former INS to fingerprint and register every alien age 14 and older within and entering the United States.

In March 2008, DOS issued guidance to its posts on implementation of IMBRA including the need to disclose petitioner criminal conviction information for certain offenses and information related to any protection orders related to the petitioner. The guidance also states that after providing any related criminal history information, consular officers should give the applicant time to decide if he or she still wishes to proceed with the visa application process

Advance Parole is permission to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad in order to continue processing for adjustment of status. Individuals must be approved for Advance Parole before leaving the United States. Travel outside of the United States without advance parole may have severe consequences for certain individuals who are in the process of adjusting their status. Such individuals may be unable to return to the United States, their applications may be denied, or both.

A document promising that the person who completes it will support an applicant financially in the United States. Family and certain employment immigration cases require the I-864 Affidavit of Support, which is legally binding. All other cases use the I-134 Affidavit of Support.

Applicants may be deemed ineligible for any of the following reasons:

Health-related grounds
Criminal grounds
Security and Related Grounds
Likely to become a Public Charge
Labor Certification & Qualification
Illegal Entrants and Immigration Violators
Documentation Requirements
Ineligible for Citizenship
Aliens Previously Removed
Miscellaneous such as Practicing Polygamists, Unlawful Voters, Former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid taxes

Also known as Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record. The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection official at the port-of-entry gives foreign visitors (all non-U.S. citizens) an Arrival-Departure Record, (a small white card) when they enter the United States. Recorded on this card is the immigrant classification and the authorized period of stay in the U.S. 

A biometric or biometric identifier is an objective measurement of a physical characteristic of an individual which, when captured in a database, can be used to verify the identity or check against other entries in the database. The best known biometric is the fingerprint, but others include facial recognition and iris scans.

Computer Linked Application Information Management System, CLAIMS, provides USCIS employees with automated support for adjudicating cases and processing various notices, among other things. CLAIMS capabilities include case tracking, status update, notice reporting, and document production. .

The date or D/S notation, shown on your Arrival-Departure Record, I-94 or I-94W is the official record of the your authorized length of stay in the U.S. Upon entering the U.S., Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port of entry, places a small white card, Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record in your passport.

EAD: This document proves you are allowed to work in the United States. If you are not a citizen or a lawful permanent resident, you may need to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to prove you may work in the United States.

Permission to enter and/or remain in the U.S. and extensions of stay in this country are granted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If you came to the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa, and you want to extend your stay in the U.S., then you must ask for permission from DHS’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before your authorized stay expires. If you have a date on your Form I-94, you should apply for your extension of stay with USCIS well in advance of its expiration.

For family based visas, a petition is filed either by a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident relative. Immediate Relatives Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (IR): These types of immigrant visas are based on a close family relationship with a U.S. citizen, including spouses, children, and parents. Limited Family-Based Immigrants involve specific, more distant, family relationships with a U.S. citizen and some specified relationships with a Lawful Permanent Resident.


 

Before the issuance of an immigrant visa, every applicant, regardless of age, must undergo a medical examination which must be performed by one of a panel of doctors authorized to complete the medical examination and x-ray of U.S. visa applicants. Applicants are provided instructions by National Visa Center

Office established in the U.S. Department of Justice by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to provide remedies for immigration-related discrimination related to employer sanctions and employment verification. The office provides a mechanism for dealing with discriminatory employment practices, including hiring and discharge from employment based on citizenship status or national origin.

A Permanent Resident is a person who has been granted permanent resident status in the United States and has (or is waiting for) a Permanent Resident Card.

Physical presence in the United States is an important eligibility requirement. Most naturalization applicants must spend a specified amount of time in the United States in order to meet the physical presence requirement for naturalization. Except in a few cases, time spent outside of the United States, even brief trips to Canada and Mexico, does not count toward your “physical presence.”

Social Security numbers are used for a variety of purposes such as for the individual’s taxpayer i.d. number, for bank and other financial accounts, and as Social Security and Medicare account numbers.